System and method for detecting and monitoring noncompliant interstate transportation of materials

ABSTRACT

A method and system for detecting and monitoring noncompliant interstate transportation of materials is disclosed. The method and system include providing a detection and monitoring network whereby multiple ports-of-entry are each equipped with a detection system that is in communication with a central computer. The detection systems are then used to detect levels of a material in vehicles passing through the ports-of-entry. The method and system further include associating the levels of material detected for each vehicle with the respective vehicle, and saving the vehicle material levels on a computer. The material levels detected at each port-of-entry are then uploaded to the central computer for monitoring and review.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is claiming under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) the benefitof Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/326,172, filed September28,2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to vehicle radiation detectionsystems, and more particularly to a system for detecting and monitoringnoncompliant interstate transportation of radioactive materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Vehicle and rail radiation detection systems that detect thepresence of radioactive materials in vehicles containing scrap metals orwaste materials are known. The systems are typically installed at metalrecycling centers or waste dumps to monitor vehicles entering the siteto ensure that no material being dumped emits radiation above a certainlevel. Examples of such systems include the Vehicle and Rail RadiationDetection System by Rad/Comm Systems of Valparaiso, Indiana, and theVanguard System by ThermoEberline of Santa Fe, N.Mex.

[0004] These systems typically include a microprocessor controller andlarge detector assemblies mounted on each side of a vehicle pass-throughsuch as, a road or railroad track. In operation, a truck or rail carpasses the detectors and the data collected by the detectors istransferred to the controller. If the detected radiation levels exceed acertain threshold, the controller emits an alarm to alert an operator.In the Vanguard system, the detected radiation levels collected by thedetectors are continually printed as a graph on a paper tape for viewingby the operator.

[0005] Although such systems effectively inform an operator ofradioactive loads, the systems have disadvantages. One problem is thatthere is no association between the plotted radiation levels and thevehicles passing-through the system. That is, the operator has no way ofknowing which radiation levels on the graph belong to which truck.

[0006] Another problem is that once a vehicle sets off the alarm and thevehicle leaves the site, there is no way to monitor the whereabouts ofthe vehicle. Finally, little or no thought is given to how theinformation about the vehicle should be used or communicated to properauthorities.

[0007] Although current detection systems protect against the dumping ofnoncompliant materials such as radioactive waste, these systems fail toprotect against illegal and noncompliant interstate transportation ofsuch materials. The present invention addresses such a need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides a method and system for detectingand monitoring noncompliant interstate transportation of materials. Themethod and system include providing a detection and monitoring networkwhereby multiple ports-of-entry are each equipped with a detectionsystem that is in communication with a central computer. The detectionsystems are then used to detect levels of a material in vehicles passingthrough the ports-of-entry. The method and system furtherinclude.associating the levels of material detected for each vehiclewith the respective vehicle, and saving the vehicle material levels on acomputer. The material levels detected at each port-of-entry are thenuploaded to the central computer for monitoring and review.

[0009] According to the method and system disclosed herein, the presentinvention associates the detector data with the appropriate vehicles andallows the proper authorities to be notified of vehicles transportingnoncompliant and/or illegal payloads across state and national borderswith minimal manpower.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a port-of-entry detection andreporting network in accordance with.a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0011]FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams illustrating regional and federaldetection and monitoring network, respectively.

[0012]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for detecting andmonitoring noncompliant interstate transportation of radioactivematerials.

[0013]FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a detection and monitoringnetwork in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention relates to the detection and reporting ofnoncompliant or illegal transportation of materials. The followingdescription is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art tomake and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patentapplication and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferredembodiments and the generic principles and features described hereinwill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the presentinvention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown but isto be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles andfeatures described herein.

[0015] Due to the increased use of nuclear energy and the disarmament ofnuclear weapons, the interstate transportation of nuclear waste fordisposal is proliferating. The applicants of the present applicationhave recognized that the rising amounts of nuclear materials oninterstate highways and other forms of transportation provide greateropportunity for the materials falling into the hands terrorists, andincreases the risk of abuses by transporters who are anxious to cutcosts.

[0016] Current means for detecting such noncompliant transportationacross state and national borders are inadequate. On interstatehighways, trucks passing state borders pass-through a port-of-entry inWhich the trucks are sometimes measured for radioactivity by an operatorperforming a hand-held scan of the truck. This method not only requireshuman intervention, but is also error prone. First, not allport-of-entry may be equipped with hand-held scanners. And for the onesthat are, only suspicious trucks are typically checked, leaving thepotential for many noncompliant trucks to pass-through undetected. Inaddition, states do not have the manpower to check the thousands oftrucks traversing the nation's ports-of-entries nor the trainingresources necessary to train more operators. Therefore, there is a longfelt but unsolved need to protect the public from illegal andnoncompliant interstate transportation of materials, such as radioactivewaste.

[0017] The present invention addresses this need by providing aninterstate transportation detection and monitoring network, wherebystate and national ports-of-entry are equipped with vehicle radiationdetection systems that measure and save the detected radiation levels ofeach vehicle in an electronic file, and associate the file with therespective vehicle. Each port-of-entry detection system then transmitsthe vehicle radiation files to a central database governmentalmonitoring and review. According to the present invention, theport-of-entry detection systems allows the proper governmental agency tobe notified of vehicles transporting noncompliant and/or illegalpayloads across state and national borders with minimal manpower.

[0018] Referring now to FIG. 1, a port-of-entry detection and reportingnetwork is shown in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. According to the present invention, the port-of-entrydetection and monitoring network 8 comprises multiple. state and/ornational ports of entry 10, which each are equipped with a detection andreporting system 12 that are in communication with a central governmentagency computer 22.

[0019] Each detection and reporting system 12 at the ports-of-entry 10include a detector system 14, which includes detector assemblies 14 amounted on each side of a vehicle pass-through and a controller 14 b. Ina preferred embodiment, the detector assemblies 14 b detect radiationlevels. As stated above, examples of such systems include radiationdetection systems produced by RadComm and ThermoEberline. Those ofordinary skill in the art, however, will readily understand that thepresent invention may be used with other types of detectors that detectthe levels other materials, such as drugs or bombs, for example.

[0020] According to the present invention, a computer 16 is connectedbetween the detector system 14 and the government agency computer 22. Adigital camera 18 and a scanner 20 are connected to the computer 16.According to the. present invention, the computer 16 is connected to thecontroller 14 b and runs a software application 24 that extracts thestream of detector data from the controller 14 b, and saves the data ina file for each vehicle. The computer 16 then reports the detectedradiation levels of each vehicle to the central government agencycomputer 22.

[0021] The government agency computer 22 may be run by either a state orfederal agency (e.g., an Environmental Protection Agency or Departmentof Transportation). According to another aspect of the presentinvention, the detection and monitoring network may be used within asingle.state to create a state network, used within a group of states tocreate a regional network, or used across the nation to create a federalnetwork.

[0022]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a regional detection andmonitoring network, and FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a federaldetection and monitoring network. In the regional detection andmonitoring network 40 shown in FIG. 2, the port-of-entry detection andreporting system 12 in those states report to a regional agency 42. Inthe federal detection and monitoring network 44 shown in FIG. 3, theport-of-entry detection and reporting systems 12 are located at stateand federal borders and report to a federal agency 46, such as theEnvironmental Protection Agency.

[0023]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for detecting andmonitoring noncompliant interstate transportation of radioactivematerials in accordance with the present invention. In a preferredembodiment, the process begins once the detectors 14 a begintransmitting radiation data to controller 14 b in step 50. Withcommercial detection systems 14, the detectors typically transmit dataon a continual basis, and controller 14 b filters background radiation.The software application 24 periodically requests the radiation datafrom the controller 14 (e.g., 1/sec.) and receives the data as a stringof characters in step 52. The software application 24 then converts thestring into radiation levels and displays the radiation levels on thecomputer 16 for an operator in step 54.

[0024] When a vehicle is detected between the detector assemblies 14 a,the software application 24 begins storing the radiation levels in anarray in step 56. Once the vehicle leaves the detection assemblies 14 a,the application 24 associates the measured radiation levels with thevehicle by storing the array in a file created for the vehicle in step58. In a preferred embodiment, the file is identified by a vehiclenumber that is assigned to each vehicle that passes through the detectorunits.

[0025] It is then determined if the detected levels of radiation exceeda predetermined threshold in step 60. This may be done by comparing ageometric mean of the detectors 14 a and a calculation of the vehiclesurface reading with a predetermined threshold. If the radiation levelsexceed the threshold, then an alarm is signaled to alert the operatorand the application 24 creates a subfolder for the vehicle for storingpictures from the digital camera 18 and images from scanner in step 62.Thereafter, pictures of the identification markings on the vehicle takenby the digital camera 18 and scanned copies of the vehicle's shippingdocuments created by the scanner 20 are uploaded to the computer 16 instep 64.

[0026] In one preferred embodiment, the picture taking and scanning isperformed manually by an operator. If the vehicle is a truck or car, thevehicle can be instructed to pull to the side of the road for thisprocess. However, in another preferred embodiment, the digital camera 18may be integrated with the port-of-entry computer 16 for automaticpicture taking, assuming that the operator can control the camera 18from the computer 16. The radiation level file for the vehicle, theimages. of the vehicle, and the scanned shipping documents. are storedin the vehicle's subfolder in step 66. The vehicle files and subfoldersare then uploaded to the government agency computer 22 in step 68 eitheron a batch or individual basis. In the case of an alarm, the vehicle'ssubfolder may be uploaded immediately.

[0027] If the port-of-entry computer 16 and the government agencycomputer 22 are connected via a modem, then the upload process may bemade more secure by requiring that the port-of-entry computer 16 firstdial the government agency computer 22 and after communication is made,hangs up. In response, the government agency computer 22 then calls backthe port-of-entry computer 16. Once a connection is made, the governmentagency computer 22 appears as a disk drive on the port-of-entry computer16, and the operator of the port-of-entry computer 16 may drag and dropselected files and folders to the government agency computer 22.

[0028] If the port-of-entry computer 16 and the government agencycomputer 22 are connected via a secure connection or via the Internet,then the files may be uploaded from the port-of-entry computer 16automatically and stored in a database on the government agency computer22. In addition, an encryption protocol can be used to protect the filetransfers and deter hackers.

[0029]FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a detection and monitoringnetwork in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention,where like components from FIG. 1 have like reference numerals. Thesecond embodiment provides a server-based detector and monitoringnetwork 100, where all port-of-entry systems 10′include an internetappliance 102 or modem that is connected to a central server 104 via acommon carrier, the Internet or dedicated network. The central server104 maintains a national database 106 for vehicles, which is indexed ona unique vehicle identification number. The central server 104 is alsoaccessible by the Environmental Protection Agency 108, as well as stateagencies 110.

[0030] The second embodiment of the present invention assumes theexistence of a federal regulation that requires all cars and trucks tobear an identification mark, such as a bar-code 114, containing a uniquevehicles identification number. Assuming that the law requires thebar-code 114 be placed on cars and trucks in standard positions, thedetection assemblies 14 a at each port-of-entry could be provided withbar-code scanners 116. This monitoring system could include a trackingsystem using transponders tracked by satellite similar to those on WasteIsolation Pilot Project (WIPP) transportation vehicles or those used bythe ONSTAR™ tracking system.

[0031] In operation, as each vehicle passes the detection assemblies 14a, the bar-code 114 is scanned for the identification number (and anyoptional shipping information). The Internet appliance 102 then savesthe vehicle's detector readings in a file named after the identificationnumber, and uploads the file to the server 104. Alternatively, thevehicle identification number may be saved in the file itself. Onceuploaded to the server 104, the detector readings in the file are storedin the national database 106 under the vehicle's record.

[0032] When a vehicle triggers an alarm, the server 104 mayautomatically notify the Environmental Protection Agency 108 for theappropriate action. In addition, the database 106 is accessible by thestate agencies 110 for queries.

[0033] According to the present invention, the detection and monitoringsystems of the present invention allow the federal government to monitorshipments across the country. For example, if a vehicle enters a stateand passes through a port-of-entry for that state without causing analarm, but then enters the adjoining state and triggers an alarm, eitherthe government agency computer 22 or the national database 106 can beaccessed to determine that the vehicle must have picked up thenoncompliant load in. the first state. The proper authorities can thenbe dispatched to investigate the source of the contaminant.

[0034] A detection and monitoring network has been disclosed thatprotects the public from the transportation of noncompliant and illegalmaterials across state and federal borders. The present invention hasbeen described in accordance with the embodiments shown, and one ofordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there could bevariations to the embodiments, and any variations would be within thespirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, manymodifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim: 1 A method for detecting and monitoring noncompliantinterstate transportation of a material, the method comprising the stepsof: (a) providing a detection and monitoring network whereby multipleports-of-entry are each equipped with a detection system that is incommunication with a central computer; (b) using the detection systemsto detect levels of the material in vehicles passing through each of theports-of-entry; (c) associating the levels of material detected for eachvehicle with the respective vehicle; (d) saving the vehicle materiallevels on a computer; and (e) uploading the vehicle material levelsdetected at each port-of-entry to the central computer for monitoringand review. 2 The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further includesthe step of using the detection systems to detect levels of radiation. 3The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) further includes step of: savingthe detected levels of material for each vehicle in an electronic file.4 The method of claim 3 wherein step (c) further includes step of: whenthe radiation levels exceed a predetermined threshold, issuing an alarmto alert an operator. 5 The method of claim 4 wherein step (c) furtherincludes step of: taking pictures of identification markings on thevehicle using a digital camera, and uploading the pictures with the fileto the central computer. 6 The method of claim 5 wherein step (c)further includes step of: scanning the vehicle's shipping documents, anduploading the scanned documents with the file to the central computer. 7The method of claim 1 wherein the detector systems further include acontroller that receives a stream of detected data from the detectorsystems, step (c) further including steps of: (i) providing the computerwith a software application for extracting the stream of detector datafrom the controller, (ii) associating the detector data with respectivevehicles, and (iii) saving the data in a file. 8 The method of claim 1further including step of allowing a government agency to control thecentral computer. 9 The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) furtherincludes step of: locating the multiple ports-of-entry in multiplestates to create a regional network, wherein the multiple ports-of-entryreport to a regional agency. 10 The method of claim 1 further includingstep of allowing a federal agency to control the central computer. 11The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further includes step of:locating the multiple ports-of-entry at state and federal borders tocreate a federal network, wherein the multiple ports-of-entry report toa federal agency. 12 An interstate transportation detection andmonitoring network, comprising: a central computer; and a plurality ofdetection and reporting systems in communication with the centralcomputer, wherein each detection and reporting system is located at avehicle port-of-entry and includes, a detector system for measuringlevels of a material in vehicles, a computer coupled to the detectorsystem, the computer for processing data detected by the detectors foreach vehicle, and transferring the data to the central computer formonitoring. 13 The system of claim 12 wherein the computer saves thedata detected for each vehicle in a file. 14 The system of claim 13wherein a digital camera and a scanner are connected to the computer. 15The system of claim 14 wherein when levels of the material are detectedfor a vehicle that pass a predetermined threshold, a folder is createdfor storing the file, digital images of the vehicle taken by the digitalcamera, and electronic copies of the vehicle's shipping documentsscanned by the scanner. 16 The system of claim 15 wherein the contentsof the folder are uploaded to the remote computer. 17 The system ofclaim 12 wherein the remote computer and the plurality of detection andreporting systems form a regional network that is controlled by aregional agency. 18 The system of claim 12 wherein the remote computerand the plurality of detection and reporting systems form a federalnetwork that is controlled by a federal agency. 19 The system of claim12 wherein the detector system includes detector assemblies mounted oneach side of a vehicle pass-through and a controller. 20 The system ofclaim 19 wherein the detector system detects radiation levels. 21 Thesystem of claim 19 wherein the detector system detects bombs. 22 Thesystem of claim 19 wherein the detector system detect drugs. 23 Aserver-based detection and monitoring network, comprising: a centralserver for maintaining a national database for vehicles, wherein eachvehicle is identified by an identification number; an identificationmark located on vehicles in a standard position, the identification markincluding the vehicle's identification number, a plurality ofport-of-entry systems, each port-of-entry including an Internetappliance coupled to the central server via a network, and detectorsystems for detecting levels of a material inside vehicles, wherein thedetector systems further include a scanner for reading theidentification mark, such that as each vehicle passes the detectionassemblies, the identification mark on the vehicle is scanned for theidentification number, the internet appliance associates the vehicle'sidentification number with a file and saves the detector readings forthe vehicle in the file, and a uploads file to the central server forstorage in the national database. 24 The network of claim 23 wherein thecentral server allows shipments to be monitored across the country bychecking entries in the national database for the vehicles that havepicked up a noncompliant material. 25 The network of claim 24 whereinthe central server is controlled by a federal agency. 26 The network ofclaim 25 wherein the federal agency is the Environmental ProtectionAgency. 27 The network of claim 25 wherein the federal agency is theDepartment of Transportation. 28 A method for detecting and monitoringnoncompliant interstate transportation of radioactive materials, themethod comprising the steps of: (a) providing detection systems at aplurality of interstate ports-of-entry, wherein each detection systemincludes detector assemblies for detecting radiation located on eachside of a vehicle pass-through, a controller coupled to the detectorassemblies, a computer coupled to controller, and a digital cameracoupled to the computer; (b) transmitting radiation data from a detectorto the controller; (c) periodically requesting by the computer radiationdata from the controller; (d) converting the radiation data intoradiation levels and displaying the radiation levels; (e) when a vehicleis detected between the detector assemblies, storing the radiationlevels in file and capturing digital images of the vehicle with thedigital camera; (f) determining if the radiation levels exceed apredetermined threshold; (g) if the radiation levels exceed thepredetermined threshold, signaling an alarm to alert an operator; and(h) uploading the file to a central computer. 29 The method of claim 28wherein step (c) further includes the step of: receiving the radiationdata as a stream of characters. 30 The method of claim 29 wherein step(e) further includes the step of: storing the radiation levels in arrayuntil the vehicle leaves the detector assemblies. 31 The method of claim30 wherein step (e) further includes the steps of: assigning a vehiclenumber to each vehicle that passes through the detector assemblies, andidentifying the file by the vehicle number assigned to vehicle. 32 Themethod of claim 31 wherein step (f) further includes the step ofcomparing a geometric mean of the detectors and a calculation of avehicle surface reading with the predetermined threshold. 33 The methodof claim 32 wherein step (g) further includes the step of: allowing theoperator to create a subfolder and storing the images in the subfolder.34 The method of claim 33 wherein step (g) further includes the step of:storing scanned shipping documents for the vehicle with the file. 35 Themethod of claim 34 wherein step (h) further includes the step of: (i)requiring that the computer for dial the central computer and hanging upafter communication is made; and (ii) in response, the remote computercalls back the computer, and appears as a disk drive on the computer,thereby allowing the operator of the computer to drag-and-drop selectedfiles and folders to the central computer.